Display fixture



July 1, i930. SCHCLZ 1,769,316

DISPLAY FIXTURE Filed F b. 25, 1928 K I (KI/WOW 00' Patented July 1, 1930 00., F MILWAUKEE, wrs'oousm DISPLAY nrxcrunn ARTHUR c. SCI-IOLZ, or MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, jAssie-non-ro 'scnorzwbomunnrne r Application filed February 23,1928. 'S.eria1Nlo.l256, 359%.

My invention refers to display fixtures for general use in displaying samples of goods in retail or wholesale establishments. 7 v

Heretofore, this general type of display fixture embodied a pedestal or standard having attached thereto a rest-plate for the support of the articles to be displayed, which rest-plate is usually in hinged connection with the rest-plate, whereby limited anguiar adjustments can be effected. Owing to the hinged connection, this adjustment could only be efiected in a single plane, and thus materially restricted a display, due to the limited means of positioning the rest-plate.

-My invention, therefore, contemplates the I attachment of any type of rest-plate to the fixture by a simple and economical universal joint connection, whereby said rest-plate or plates can be adjusted at any angle desired. For example, where a group 0f rest-plates are supported by a single standard, they may be adjusted at-varying angles with relation to each other to more effectually display the articles forsale. It is also to be understood that the rest-plate or fixture may be varied in form; for example, in displaying shoes, shirts, hats, or the like. The essential feature is that the simple and universal joint connection is formed between any type of rest-plate and any type of standard or spindle.

The specific object of my invention is to provide a universal joint ofthe type mentioned above, wherein looseness of the oint a due to wear or climatic conditions, is eliminated, owing to a peculiar spring take-up mechanism in connection with the joint, whereby the parts of said joint are held firm ly in a predetermined adjustment with relation to each other. Briefly, the frictional contact is automatically assured in order that the adjustment of the rest-plate will be held firmly at all times.

With the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of:

parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes inthe'- precise embodiment of the herein dis'c'losefd invention may be made as come Within the scope of the claim. I n In the drawings, F gure 1 represents a fragifnentaryelevation of thefupper part, Ora

display fixture embodying theffeature's of my inventi on, p with parts being broken away and-in section to more clearly illustrate the structural features; and

'Figur'e2 'sacross section of the same, this sectionbeingtaken onthe line 2 12 of Figurel. y I j Beferring by character tot'he drawing, 1 represents supporting spindle havinga transverse arm 2 extendin therefrom, which arm terminates with avertic'ally disposed sphere 8 having reduced neck, as best shown d in Figure 2.

It is to b understood that the a "2 my bev provided with a similar terminalfat its other end, I Asa matter of fact, the spindle may terminate directly in a spherical portion 3, or there may be one or more arms carrying such spheres for a group of rest plates,

, A rest-plate a of any desired design ris' 'proe vide'd and this 're'st -plateflias secured to its lower face by screws, a block 5, which block ispr'ovided with a centrally disposed circular aperture 6. This'aperture isclosed at its up;

per end bythe restplate and the lowerjend thereof is restricted, forming the spherical end, that is,-tlie' same diameter as the sphere'3, thej'same extending belovv theigreater' diameter ofsuch sphere! i In assembling the device, thereducedneck s'erfthesphre, which constitutes a part of the'sphere,separable from the arm. It is dropped through the circular op'ening i fi' whereby'the sphere-formsa Wedging contact in connection with a contracted spherical end In practice, the device is preferably composed of wood for ornamental purposes and is tastily finished. Hence, the parts, when all assembled, display no metallic connections or other mechanical features which might mar the artistic effect of the display fixture as a whole. Obviously, however, I may substitute metal for the wood fixture in some cases without departingfrom thespirit of the invention.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that by this simple, universal joint connection the rest-plate upon which the goods are placed, can be adjusted at any angle desired and held in such angle securely, due to the constant frictional grip of the walls of the sphere 3 and the lower spherical terminal of the block aperture 6. In instances where the parts are made of Wood, or as a matter of fact,

4 even in such cases Where thepa-rts are metallic, there is a certain amount of play developed in constantly adjusting the ball and socket connections, which play is readily taken up by thespring to insure sufiicient friction to hold the restplate in its predetermined position rigidly, irrespective of the load upon the same. 7

It is understood that I may, in practice, vary the specific details of construction as eX- emplified in the drawingswithout departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

In a device of, the class described, a restplate, a block secured to the rest-plate and aving a circularaperture therethrough closed at one end by the rest-plate and having a contracted portion at the other end, a display fixture having a spherical terminal adapted to be fitted into the circular aperture and engage the contracted portion to retain said terminal in the aperture, a flat washer bearing against the spherical terminal and located in said aperture, said washer having an aperture for the reception of a portion of the spherical terminal and a's pringtension device interposed between the rest-plate and the washer and adapted to exert frictional pressure against the sphere whereby the restplate isrigidly held in any predetermined adjusted position. V

f In testimony' that I claim the foregoing have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State .of Wis-V cousin. 7 p ARTHUR C. SCHQLZ. 

